阅读说明：本技术 驱动齿轮机构 (Drive gear mechanism ) 是由 长野秀树 于 2019-08-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供能够改变从动齿轮的转速的驱动齿轮机构。从驱动机构(10)的第一驱动齿轮部(21)及第一从动齿轮部(31)的齿(21b、31b)中的、最后在连结旋转轴(Ax、Bx)的轴间线(L)上经过的第一端的齿(21bx、31bx)的齿尖到具有第一端的齿(21bx、31bx)的齿轮部(21、31)的旋转轴(Ax、Bx)的半径方向距离(Ltx)、与从在轴间线(L)上与第一端的齿(21bx、31bx)的齿尖相对的主体部的表面(31ax、21ax)到该主体部(31a、21a)的旋转轴(Bx、Ax)的半径方向距离(Lsx)的和在与第二驱动齿轮部(22)及第二从动齿轮部(32)的基准圆直径(R22、R32)的和以上。(The invention provides a driving gear mechanism capable of changing the rotation speed of a driven gear. A radial distance (Ltx) from the tooth tip of a first end tooth (21Bx, 31Bx) which passes through the last on an inter-axis line (L) connecting the rotation axes (Ax, Bx) among the teeth (21b, 31b) of the first drive gear part (21) and the first driven gear part (31) of the drive mechanism (10) to the rotation axes (Ax, Bx) of the gear parts (21, 31) having the first end teeth (21Bx, 31Bx), a gear part which is at least equal to the sum of the radial distance (Lsx) from the surface (31Ax, 21Ax) of the main body part which is opposite to the tooth tip of the first end tooth (21Bx, 31Bx) on the inter-axis line (L) to the rotation axes (Bx, Ax) of the main body part (31a, 21a) and reference circle diameters (R22, R32) of the second drive gear part (22) and the second driven gear part (31 a).)

1. In an air conditioner (1) for a vehicle having an air conditioning casing (2) in which an air passage (3) through which air flows is formed, a drive gear mechanism (10) drives doors (6, 8) that change the flow of air flowing through the air passage,

the drive gear mechanism (10) is provided with:

an actuator (11) that generates a rotational drive force;

a drive gear (20) which is driven to rotate by the actuator (11);

a driven gear (30) that is coupled to a shaft (7) that drives the door, engages with the drive gear (20), and transmits the rotational driving force of the actuator (11) to the shaft (7);

the drive gear (20) has a first drive gear part (21) and a second drive gear part (22) having reference circular diameters (R21, R22) different from each other,

the driven gear (30) has a first driven gear part (31) and a second driven gear part (32) which are provided corresponding to the first drive gear part (21) and the second drive gear part (22) and have different reference circle diameters (R31, R32),

the meshing of the drive gear (20) and the driven gear (30) is performed by a first meshing between the first drive gear (21) and the first driven gear (31) or a second meshing between the second drive gear (22) and the second driven gear (32) according to the rotational phase of the drive gear (20),

the first drive gear part (21) and the second drive gear part (22) each have: a main body part (21a, 22a) connected to the actuator (11); a plurality of teeth (21b, 22b) provided in the body portions (21a, 22a) and used for the first meshing with the first driven gear portion (31) or the second meshing with the second driven gear portion (32);

the first driven gear part (31) and the second driven gear part (32) each have: a main body (31a, 32a) connected to the shaft (7); a plurality of teeth (31b, 32b) provided to the body portions (31a, 32a) and used for the first meshing with the first drive gear portion (21) or the second meshing with the second drive gear portion (22),

a radial distance (Ltx) from a tooth tip of a first end tooth (21Bx, 31Bx) that passes last on an inter-axial line (L) connecting a rotation axis (Ax) of the drive gear (20) and a rotation axis (Bx) of the driven gear (30) when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh, among the plurality of teeth (21b, 31b) of the first drive gear (21) and the first driven gear (31), to the rotation axis (Ax, Bx) of the gear portion (21, 31) having the first end tooth (21Bx, 31Bx), and a radial distance (Ltx) from a surface (31Ax, 21Ax) of the body portion (31a, 21a) of the gear portion (31, 21) that opposes the tooth tip of the first end tooth (21Bx, 31Bx) on the inter-axial line (L) to the rotation axis (Bx, 21a) having the gear portion (31a, 21a), Ax) is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circle diameter (R22) of the second drive gear part (22) and the reference circle diameter (R32) of the second driven gear part (32).

2. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 1,

surfaces (31Ax, 21Ax) of the main bodies (31a, 21a) that face the tips of the first-end teeth (21Bx, 31Bx) are located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotational axis (Bx, Ax) of the gear portion (31, 21) than surfaces (31as, 21as) of the main bodies (31a, 21a) of the gear portion (31, 21) that face the tips of teeth other than the first-end teeth (21Bx, 31Bx) of the gear portion (21, 31) having the first-end teeth (21Bx, 31Bx) on the inter-axis line (L).

3. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 1,

surfaces (31Ax, 21Ax) of the main bodies (31a, 21a) that face the tips of the first-end teeth (21Bx, 31Bx) are located radially outward of a circle centered on the rotational axis (Bx, Ax) of the gear sections (31, 21) having the main bodies (31a, 21a) on outer peripheral edges (31ae, 21ae) of the main bodies (31a, 21a) that have the surfaces (31Ax, 21Ax) and at which the radial distance to the rotational axis (Bx, Ax) of the gear sections (31, 21) is shortest.

4. The drive gear mechanism (10) according to claim 2 or 3,

the first end teeth (21bx) are provided on the first drive gear part (21).

5. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 1,

the tooth tip of the first-end tooth (31Bx) is positioned further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis (Bx) of the gear portion (31) than the tooth tip of a tooth other than the first-end tooth (31Bx) among the plurality of teeth (31b) of the gear portion (31) having the first-end tooth (31 Bx).

6. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 5,

the first end teeth (31bx) are provided on the first driven gear part (31).

7. The drive gear mechanism (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

a radial distance (Lty) from the tooth tip of a second end tooth (22by, 32by) that passes on the inter-axis line (L) last, out of the plurality of teeth (22b, 32b) of the second drive gear portion (22) and the second driven gear portion (32), when the second mesh is shifted to the first mesh, to the rotational axis (Ax, Bx) of the gear portion (22, 32) having the second end tooth (22by, 32by), the sum of the radial distances (Lsy) from the surfaces (32ay, 22ay) of the main body portions (32a, 22a) of the gear portions (32, 22) opposed to the tooth tips of the teeth (22by, 32by) at the second ends on the inter-axis line (L) to the rotational axes (Bx, Ax) of the gear portions (32, 22) having the main body portions (32a, 22a) is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circular diameter (R21) of the first drive gear portion (21) and the reference circular diameter (R31) of the first driven gear portion (31).

8. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 7,

the surface (32ay) of the main body portion (32a) facing the tooth tip of the second-end tooth (22by) is located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis (Bx) of the gear portion (32) than the surface (32as) of the main body portion (32a) of the gear portion (32) facing the tooth tip of a tooth other than the second-end tooth (22by) out of the plurality of teeth (22b) of the gear portion (22) having the second-end tooth (22by) on the inter-axis line (L).

9. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 7,

a surface (32ay) of the main body portion (32a) which is opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth (22by) is located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on a rotation axis (Bx) of a gear portion (32) having the main body portion (32a) than a point on an outer peripheral edge (32ae) of the main body portion (32a) having the surface (32ay) at which the radial direction distance to the rotation axis (Bx) is shortest.

10. The drive gear mechanism (10) according to claim 8 or 9,

the teeth (22by) of the second end are provided in the second drive gear part (22).

11. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 7,

the tooth tips of the second-end teeth (22by, 32by) are positioned further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotational axis (Ax, Bx) of the gear portion (22, 32) than the tooth tips of teeth other than the second-end teeth (22by, 32by) in the plurality of teeth (22b, 32b) of the gear portion (22, 32) having the second-end teeth (22by, 32 by).

12. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 11,

the second end teeth (32by) are provided to the second driven gear portion (32).

13. In an air conditioning device (1) for a vehicle, which has an air conditioning casing (2) in which an air duct (3) through which air flows is formed, a drive gear mechanism (10) for driving doors (6, 8) that change the flow of air that flows through the air duct, the drive gear mechanism is provided with:

an actuator (11) that generates a rotational drive force;

a drive gear (20) which is driven to rotate by the actuator (11);

a driven gear (30) coupled to a shaft (7) that drives the door, meshed with the drive gear (20), and transmitting a rotational driving force of the actuator (11) to the shaft (7),

the drive gear (20) has a first drive gear part (21) and a second drive gear part (22) having reference circular diameters (R21, R22) different from each other,

the driven gear (30) has a first driven gear part (31) and a second driven gear part (32) which are provided corresponding to the first drive gear part (21) and the second drive gear part (22) and have different reference circular diameters (R31, R32),

the meshing of the drive gear (20) and the driven gear (30) is performed by a first meshing between the first drive gear (21) and the first driven gear (31) or a second meshing between the second drive gear (22) and the second driven gear (32) according to the rotational phase of the drive gear (20),

the first drive gear part (21) and the second drive gear part (22) each have: a main body part (21a, 22a) connected to the actuator (11); a plurality of teeth (21b, 22b) provided to the body portions (21a, 22a) and used for the first meshing with the first driven gear portion (31) or the second meshing with the second driven gear portion (32),

the first driven gear part (31) and the second driven gear part (32) each have: a main body (31a, 32a) connected to the shaft (7); a plurality of teeth (31b, 32b) provided to the body portions (31a, 32a) and used for the first meshing with the first drive gear portion (21) or the second meshing with the second drive gear portion (22),

the plurality of teeth (21b) of the first drive gear part (21) have a tooth (21bp) of a third end that passes on an inter-axis line (L) connecting a rotation axis (Ax) of the drive gear (20) and a rotation axis (Bx) of the driven gear (30) last among the plurality of teeth (21b) of the first drive gear part (21) when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh,

the plurality of teeth (22b) of the second drive gear part (22) have a fourth-end tooth (22bq) passing on the inter-axis line first among the plurality of teeth (22b) of the second drive gear part (22) when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh,

the second drive gear part (22) or the second driven gear part (32) further has a first additional tooth (22cr) that passes on the inter-axis line (L) while coming into contact with any of the plurality of teeth (31b) of the first driven gear part (31) from the tooth (21bp) at the third end to the tooth (22bq) at the fourth end and reaching the inter-axis line (L),

the sum of a radial distance (Ltr) from the tooth tip of the first additional tooth (22cr) to the rotational axis (Ax) of the gear portion (22) having the first additional tooth (22cr), a radial distance (Lsr) from the surface (32ar) of the main body portion (32a) of the gear portion (32) opposite to the tooth tip of the first additional tooth (22cr) on the inter-axis line (L) to the rotational axis (Bx) of the gear portion (32) having the main body portion (32a), a reference circular diameter (R22) at the second drive gear portion (22), and a reference circular diameter (R32) at the second driven gear portion (32) is equal to or greater than the sum of the radial distances (Ltr).

14. The drive gear mechanism (10) of claim 13,

the first drive gear part (21) or the first driven gear part (31) further has a second additional tooth (31cu) that passes on the inter-axis line (L) while coming into contact with any one of the plurality of teeth (32b) of the second driven gear part (32) from the tooth (22bq) at the fourth end and the tooth (21bp) at the third end reaches the inter-axis line (L),

the sum of a radial distance (Ltu) from the tooth tip of the second additional tooth (31cu) to the rotational axis (Bx) of the gear portion (31) having the second additional tooth (31cu), and a radial distance (Lsu) from the surface (21au) of the main body portion (21a) of the gear portion (21) opposite to the tooth tip of the second additional tooth (31cu) on the inter-axis line (L) to the rotational axis (Ax) of the gear portion (21) having the main body portion (21a), and the reference circle diameter (R21) of the first drive gear portion (21) and the reference circle diameter (R31) of the first driven gear portion (31) is equal to or greater than the sum.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a drive gear mechanism.

Background

Conventionally, there is known an air conditioner for a vehicle, which includes an air conditioning case having an air passage formed therein, and a door disposed in the air conditioning case for changing the flow of air flowing through the air passage. The door is, for example, an air mixing door that adjusts the ratio of air heated by passing through a heating heat exchanger disposed in an air duct to air bypassing the heating heat exchanger, an outlet duct door that closes or opens an outlet duct provided in an air conditioning casing, or the like.

Patent document 1 discloses a drive gear mechanism for driving such a door. In patent document 1, the drive gear mechanism includes a drive gear that is driven to rotate by an actuator, and a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear and a rack provided in the door. The rotational driving force of the actuator is transmitted to the rack of the door via the driving gear and the driven gear, and is converted into vertical movement by the rack, thereby sliding the door in the vertical direction.

However, recently, in order to diversify the operation mode of the air conditioner and to realize temperature adjustment with higher accuracy, there has been a demand for a drive gear mechanism capable of changing the rotation speed of the driven gear relative to the rotation speed of the drive gear in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear. In order to realize such a drive gear mechanism, when the structure of each gear is more complicated, if an assembly error or a dimensional error occurs in the air conditioner or the drive gear mechanism itself, the gears may not mesh with each other, and the drive gear mechanism may not operate.

As described above, it is possible to realize a drive gear mechanism that can change the rotation speed of the driven gear with respect to the rotation speed of the drive gear in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear and can operate even if an assembly error or a dimensional error occurs.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a drive gear mechanism that can change the rotation speed of a driven gear with respect to the rotation speed of a drive gear in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear and can operate even if an assembly error or a dimensional error occurs.

Means for solving the problems

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

provided is a drive gear mechanism for driving a door for changing the flow of air flowing through an air passage in an air conditioner for a vehicle having an air conditioning case in which the air passage is formed,

the drive gear mechanism includes:

an actuator that generates a rotational driving force;

a drive gear that is driven to rotate by the actuator;

a driven gear coupled to a shaft that drives the door, engaged with the driving gear, and transmitting a rotational driving force of the actuator to the shaft,

the drive gear has a first drive gear portion and a second drive gear portion having reference circular diameters different from each other,

the driven gear includes a first driven gear portion and a second driven gear portion having different reference diameters and provided corresponding to the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion, respectively,

the meshing of the drive gear and the driven gear is performed by a first meshing between the first drive gear portion and the first driven gear portion or a second meshing between the second drive gear portion and the second driven gear portion in accordance with a rotational phase of the drive gear,

the first drive gear unit and the second drive gear unit each have: a main body portion connected to the actuator; a plurality of teeth provided in the body portion for meshing with the first gear of the first driven gear portion or the second gear of the second driven gear portion,

the first driven gear part and the second driven gear part each have: a main body portion connected to the shaft; a plurality of teeth provided in the body portion for meshing with the first gear of the first drive gear portion or the second gear of the second drive gear portion,

the sum of the radial distance from the tooth tip of the first end tooth of the plurality of teeth of the first drive gear part and the first driven gear part, which passes on the axis line connecting the rotation axis of the drive gear and the rotation axis of the driven gear last at the time of transition from the first mesh to the second mesh, to the rotation axis of the gear part having the first end tooth, and the radial distance from the surface of the main body part of the gear part, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the first end tooth on the axis line, to the rotation axis of the gear part having the main body part, and the reference circular diameter of the second drive gear part and the reference circular diameter of the second driven gear part is equal to or greater than the sum.

Or according to a preferred further embodiment of the present invention,

provided is a drive gear mechanism for driving a door for changing the flow of air flowing through an air passage in an air conditioner for a vehicle having an air conditioning case in which the air passage is formed,

the drive gear mechanism includes:

an actuator that generates a rotational driving force;

a drive gear that is driven to rotate by the actuator;

a driven gear coupled to a shaft that drives the door, engaged with the driving gear, and transmitting a rotational driving force of the actuator to the shaft,

the drive gear has a first drive gear portion and a second drive gear portion having reference circular diameters different from each other,

the driven gear includes a first driven gear portion and a second driven gear portion having different reference diameters and provided corresponding to the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion, respectively,

the meshing of the drive gear and the driven gear is performed by a first meshing between the first drive gear portion and the first driven gear portion or a second meshing between the second drive gear portion and the second driven gear portion in accordance with a rotational phase of the drive gear,

the first drive gear unit and the second drive gear unit each have: a main body portion connected to the actuator; a plurality of teeth provided in the body portion for meshing with the first gear of the first driven gear portion or the second gear of the second driven gear portion,

the first driven gear part and the second driven gear part each have: a main body portion connected to the shaft; a plurality of teeth provided in the body portion for meshing with the first gear of the first drive gear portion or the second gear of the second drive gear portion,

the plurality of teeth of the first drive gear portion have a tooth of a third end that passes on an axis line connecting the rotation axis of the drive gear and the rotation axis of the driven gear last among the plurality of teeth of the first drive gear portion when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh,

the plurality of teeth of the second drive gear portion include a fourth-end tooth that passes through the inter-axis line at first among the plurality of teeth of the second drive gear portion when the transition is made from the first mesh to the second mesh,

the second drive gear part or the second driven gear part further includes a first additional tooth passing on the inter-axis line from the tooth of the third end to any one of the plurality of teeth of the first driven gear part after coming into contact with the tooth of the fourth end to the tooth of the fourth end,

the sum of the radial distance from the tooth tip of the first additional tooth to the rotational axis of the gear portion having the first additional tooth and the radial distance from the surface of the main body portion of the gear portion facing the tooth tip of the first additional tooth on the inter-axis line to the rotational axis of the gear portion having the main body portion is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circle diameter of the second drive gear portion and the reference circle diameter of the second driven gear portion.

Effects of the invention

According to the embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a drive gear mechanism which can change the rotation speed of the driven gear with respect to the rotation speed of the drive gear according to the rotation phase of the drive gear and can operate even if an assembly error or a dimensional error occurs.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view schematically showing the structure of an air conditioning unit of an air conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of the air conditioning part shown in fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of the air conditioning part shown in fig. 1;

fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an air mix door, a shaft, and a driving gear mechanism of the air conditioning part shown in fig. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a drive gear, an upper driven gear, a rack, and a lower driven gear of the drive gear mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

fig. 6 is a side view showing the driving gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5;

fig. 7A is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh;

fig. 7B is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh;

fig. 7C is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh;

fig. 8A is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh;

fig. 8B is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh;

fig. 8C is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh;

fig. 9 is a view corresponding to fig. 6, showing a side view of a drive gear and an upper driven gear of a modification;

fig. 10 is a view corresponding to fig. 7B, and is a partially enlarged side view for explaining an operation when shifting from the first engagement to the second engagement of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 9;

fig. 11 is a partially enlarged side view corresponding to fig. 8B, illustrating the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 9 when shifting from the second engagement to the first engagement;

fig. 12 is a view corresponding to fig. 6, showing a side view of a drive gear and an upper driven gear of another modification;

fig. 13 is a view corresponding to fig. 6, and is a side view showing a drive gear and an upper driven gear of yet another modification;

fig. 14 is a view corresponding to fig. 6, showing a side view of the drive gear and the upper driven gear of the second embodiment;

fig. 15 is a view corresponding to fig. 7B, and is a partially enlarged side view for explaining an operation when shifting from the first engagement to the second engagement of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 14;

fig. 16 is a view corresponding to fig. 8B, and is a partially enlarged side view for explaining the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 14 when shifting from the second engagement to the first engagement.

Description of the reference numerals

Air conditioner for vehicle

2 air-conditioner case

3 air channel

3a upper side detour

3b lower side detour

5 Heat exchanger for heating

6 upside air mixing door

7 upper side shaft

8 lower side air mixing door

9 lower side shaft

10 drive gear mechanism

11 actuator

20 drive gear

21 first drive gear part

22 second drive gear part

30 upper driven gear

31 first driven gear part

32 second driven gear part

40 rack

50 lower side driven gear

21bx, 31bx first end teeth

Teeth at the second end of 22by, 32by

Tooth of the 21bp third end

22bq fourth end tooth

22cr first additional tooth

31cu second additional tooth

Ax drive shaft of gear

Rotation axis of Bx upper side driven gear

Rotating shaft of Cx lower driven gear

S1 imaginary plane

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

< first embodiment >

Fig. 1 is a side view schematically showing the structure of an air conditioning unit of an air conditioning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken along the line I-I and the line II-II of the air-conditioning unit shown in fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an air mix door, a shaft, and a drive gear mechanism of the air-conditioning unit shown in fig. 1. In fig. 2, the blow-out duct door is not shown for clarity of illustration.

In this specification, for convenience of explanation, the side shown in fig. 1 is referred to as the left side of the air-conditioning unit, and the side opposite to the side shown in fig. 1 (see fig. 2 and 3) is referred to as the right side of the air-conditioning unit. In the present specification, the terms "clockwise direction" and "counterclockwise direction" with respect to the rotational direction of the gear and the shaft described below mean, unless otherwise specified, "clockwise direction" and "counterclockwise direction" determined in a state where the gear and the shaft are viewed from the left side toward the right side of the air-conditioning unit.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, an air conditioning unit 1a of an air conditioning device 1 for a vehicle includes an air conditioning casing 2. The air conditioning case 2 is internally formed with an air passage 3 through which air flows. More specifically, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, a connection port 300 connected to a blower (not shown) is formed at the upstream end 2a of the air conditioning casing 2, and air blown from the blower flows into the air passage 3 of the air conditioning casing 2 through the connection port 300. The blower may be disposed on the left side of the air-conditioning unit 1a, and in this case, the connection port 300 is formed on the left side of the air-conditioning unit 1 a. Further, a plurality of outlet ducts 301, 302, 303 are formed at the downstream end 2b of the air conditioning casing 2, and the air flowing into the air duct 3 flows out from the outlet ducts 301, 302, 303.

The plurality of air-blowing channels of the air-conditioning casing 2 include a defroster air-blowing channel 301, a vent air-blowing channel 302, and a foot air-blowing channel 303. As shown in fig. 1, the defroster blowout channel 301 is provided on the top surface 2c of the air-conditioning case 2. The downstream end of the defroster air outlet duct 301 is connected to an unillustrated defroster air outlet that blows air toward the inner surface of the front windshield in the vehicle cabin. In addition, the ventilation blowout path 302 is provided in an upper portion of the downstream-side end surface 2d of the air-conditioning casing 2. The downstream end of the ventilation/air-blowing duct 302 is connected to a ventilation/air-blowing port (not shown) that blows air toward the upper half of the passenger seated in the driver seat and the passenger seat (the rear seat may be used depending on the case). The foot outlet duct 303 is provided at a lower portion of the downstream end surface 2d of the air conditioning casing 2. The downstream end of the foot outlet duct 303 is connected to a foot outlet (not shown) that blows air under the feet of a passenger seated in the driver seat and the passenger seat (or the rear seat, depending on the case).

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, in the air passage 3 of the air-conditioning casing 2 are provided: a cooling heat exchanger (evaporator) 4, a heating heat exchanger (heater core) 5, and various doors ( air mix doors 6, 8 and outlet duct doors 301D, 302D, 303D) that change the flow of air flowing through the air duct 3. Further, a drive gear mechanism 10 for driving the air mix doors 6 and 8 is provided on the left side surface 2g of the air conditioning casing 2.

The cooling heat exchanger (evaporator) 4 is provided so that all of the air flowing into the air-conditioning casing 2 passes through the cooling heat exchanger 4. Specifically, the cooling heat exchanger 4 is provided so as to occupy the total cross-sectional area of the air passage 3. The cooling heat exchanger 4 absorbs heat from the air passing through the cooling heat exchanger 4, and reduces the air humidity by condensing moisture in the air when the air humidity is high.

The heating heat exchanger (heater core) 5 is disposed downstream of the cooling heat exchanger 4 in the air passage 3 formed in the air-conditioning casing 2. The heating heat exchanger 5 heats the air passing through the heating heat exchanger 5.

The heating heat exchanger 5 does not occupy the total cross-sectional area of the air passage 3. In the air-conditioning casing 2, an upper bypass 3a is formed above the heating heat exchanger 5, and a lower bypass 3b is formed below. These bypass paths 3a and 3b allow the air flowing through the air duct 3 to flow to the downstream side of the heating heat exchanger 5 without passing through the heating heat exchanger 5 (bypassing the heating heat exchanger 5).

The air mix doors 6 and 8 are provided between the cooling heat exchanger 4 and the heating heat exchanger 5 in the air flow direction. In the illustrated example, the air mix doors 6 and 8 are plate-shaped members and are disposed substantially parallel to the upstream surface of the heating heat exchanger 5. The air mix doors 6 and 8 are provided in the upper and lower portions of the air duct 3, respectively, and can adjust the opening degrees of the upper and lower detours 3a and 3 b. Hereinafter, the air mix doors 6 disposed in the upper portion of the air duct 3 are each referred to as an "upper air mix door 6", and the air mix doors 8 disposed in the lower portion of the air duct 3 are each referred to as a "lower air mix door 8".

The upper air mix door 6 is slidable in the upper portion of the air passage 3 in the up-down direction. The upper air mix door 6 adjusts the ratio of the air toward the upper portion 5a of the heating heat exchanger 5 to the air toward the upper bypass 3a according to the position thereof. In addition, the lower air mix door 8 is slidable in the lower portion of the air passage 3 in the up-down direction. The lower air mix door 8 can adjust the ratio of the air toward the lower portion 5b of the heating heat exchanger 5 to the air toward the lower detour 3b by its position.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the upper air mix door 6 and the lower air mix door 8 are connected to shafts 7 and 9 extending in the air duct 3 in the left-right direction, respectively, and can slide in the upper portion and the lower portion of the air duct 3 in the up-down direction by rotating the shafts 7 and 9. More specifically, as shown in fig. 4, on one surface of each air mix door 6, 8, racks 6r, 8r are provided from the upper end edge to the lower end edge thereof, respectively. Further, gears 7p, 9p that mesh with the racks 6r, 8r are provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the shafts 7, 9. When the shafts 7 and 9 are rotated in the circumferential direction, the rotational movement of the shafts 7 and 9 is converted into a vertical movement by the gears 7p and 9p and the racks 6r and 8r, and the air mix doors 6 and 8 slide vertically. The upper air mix door 6 and the lower air mix door 8 move at a speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the corresponding shafts 7 and 9. Hereinafter, the shafts 7 connected to the upper air mix door 6 are both referred to as "upper shafts 7", and the shafts 9 connected to the lower air mix door 8 are both referred to as "lower shafts 9".

As shown in fig. 2, the shafts 7 and 9 are rotatably supported at both ends thereof on the left side surface 2g and the right side surface 2h of the air-conditioning casing 2. In the illustrated example, the left ends of the shafts 7 and 9 extend outside the air conditioning casing 2 and are connected to a drive gear mechanism 10.

As described above, the upper air mix door 6 slides in the upper portion of the air passage 3 in the vertical direction, thereby adjusting the ratio of the air toward the upper portion 5a of the heating heat exchanger 5 to the air toward the upper detour 3 a. That is, the opening area of the upper detour 3a is changed by the upper air mix door 6 sliding in the vertical direction, and the area of the portion of the upper portion 5a of the heating heat exchanger 5 overlapping the upper air mix door 6 is changed as viewed in the air flow direction. Thereby, in the upper portion of the air passage 3, the ratio of the air toward the upper detour 3a to the air toward the upper portion 5a of the heating heat exchanger 5 is changed. In the example shown in fig. 1, the upper air mix door 6 minimizes the opening area of the upper detour 3a, and minimizes the area of the portion of the upper portion 5a of the heating heat exchanger 5 overlapping the upper air mix door 6 in the air flow direction. In this case, the proportion of the air flowing toward the upper bypass 3a is smallest in the upper portion of the air passage 3, while the proportion of the air flowing toward the heating heat exchanger 5 is largest.

Hereinafter, the position (the position shown in fig. 1) of the upper air mix door 6 at which the opening area of the upper detour 3a is minimized is referred to as "upper first position", and the position at which the opening area of the upper detour 3a is maximized is referred to as "upper second position".

As described above, the lower air mix door 8 slides in the vertical direction, thereby adjusting the ratio of the air flowing toward the lower portion 5b of the heating heat exchanger 5 to the air flowing toward the lower bypass 3 b. That is, the opening area of the lower detour 3b is changed by the lower air mix door 8 sliding in the vertical direction, and the area of the portion of the lower portion 5b of the heating heat exchanger 5 overlapping the lower air mix door 8 is changed as viewed in the air flow direction. Thereby, in the lower portion of the air passage 3, the ratio of the air toward the lower detour 3b to the air toward the heating heat exchanger 5 is changed. In the example shown in fig. 1, the lower air mix door 8 minimizes the opening area of the lower detour 3b, and minimizes the area of the portion of the lower portion 5b of the heating heat exchanger 5 that overlaps the lower air mix door 8 in the air flow direction. In this case, the proportion of the air flowing toward the lower bypass 3b is smallest in the lower portion of the air passage 3, while the proportion of the air flowing toward the heating heat exchanger 5 is largest.

Hereinafter, the position (the position shown in fig. 1) of the lower air mix door 8 at which the opening area of the lower detour 3b is minimized is referred to as a "lower first position", and the position at which the opening area of the lower detour 3b is maximized is referred to as a "lower second position".

As described above, the air-conditioning casing 2 is provided with the blow-out passages 301, 302, and 303 (see fig. 1) on the downstream side of the heating heat exchanger 5. The defroster blowing channel 301 and the vent blowing channel 302 are provided in the upper portion of the air-conditioning casing 2. The air having passed through the upper portion 5a and/or the upper detour 3a of the heating heat exchanger 5 tends to easily enter the air outlet passages 301 and 302. In addition, a foot blow-out passage 303 is formed in a lower portion of the air-conditioning casing 2. The air having passed through the lower portion 5b and/or the lower detour 3b of the heating heat exchanger 5 tends to easily enter the blowing duct 303.

The outlet duct doors 301D, 302D, and 303D are provided in the defroster outlet duct 301, the vent outlet duct 302, and the foot outlet duct 303, respectively, and adjust the opening areas of the corresponding outlet ducts 301, 302, and 303. Hereinafter, the outlet duct doors 301D, 302D, and 303D are referred to as a defroster door 301D, a ventilation door 302D, and a foot door 303D, respectively, in the sense of doors that open and close the outlet ducts 301, 302, and 303 that are continuous with the defroster outlet, the ventilation outlet, and the foot outlet.

The outlet duct doors 301D, 302D, 303D are plate-like members extending from shafts 301s, 302s, 303s extending in the left-right direction in the air-conditioning casing 2. The outlet duct doors 301D, 302D, 303D open or close the corresponding outlet ducts 301, 302, 303 by rotating the shafts 301s, 302s, 303s by a drive gear mechanism, not shown. The opening degrees of the doors 301D, 302D, 303D can be controlled by a control unit configured by an on-board microcomputer or the like, and the opening areas of the outlet ducts 301, 302, 303 are set to arbitrary opening areas.

In the operation mode of the air conditioner 1 shown in fig. 1, for example, the following are provided: defrost mode, defrost/foot mode, vent mode, bi-level mode, etc. In the defrost mode, the defrost door 301D is opened, and the ventilation door 302D and the foot door 303D are closed, and conditioned air is blown out from the defroster air outlet. In the defroster/foot mode, the defroster door 301D and the foot door 303D are opened, and the ventilation door 302D is closed, so that the conditioned air is blown out from the defroster air outlet and the foot air outlet. In the foot mode, the defroster door 301D and the vent door 302D are closed, and the foot door 303D is opened to blow out the conditioned air from the foot air outlet. In the ventilation mode, the ventilation door 302D is opened, and the defroster door 301D and the foot door 303D are closed, and conditioned air is blown out from the ventilation air outlet. In the bi-level mode, the ventilation door 302D and the foot door 303D are opened, and the defroster door 301D is closed, so that conditioned air is blown out from the ventilation air outlet and the foot air outlet.

Next, a drive gear mechanism 10 for driving the upper shaft 7 and the lower shaft 9 to rotate will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 8C.

Fig. 5 is a side view showing a drive gear, an upper driven gear, a rack, and a lower driven gear of the drive gear mechanism shown in fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view showing the drive gear and the upper driven gear shown in fig. 5. Fig. 7A to 7C are views showing the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh, and fig. 8A to 8C are views showing the operation of the drive gear and the upper driven gear when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the drive gear mechanism 10 is disposed outside the air-conditioning casing 2 so as to face the left side surface 2g of the air-conditioning casing 2. As shown in fig. 1 and 5, the drive gear mechanism 10 includes: an actuator 11 generating a rotational driving force, a drive gear 20 driven to rotate by the actuator 11, and an upper driven gear 30 meshed with the drive gear 20. The drive gear 20 has a drive force transmission shaft 20S fitted to a gear, not shown, in the actuator 11, and receives a rotational drive force from the actuator 11 to rotate about the rotation axis Ax in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction. The rotational driving force of the actuator 11 is transmitted to the upper driven gear 30 via the drive gear 20 by the engagement of the upper driven gear 30 with the drive gear 20. When the drive gear 20 rotates, the upper driven gear 30 rotates in a rotational direction opposite to the rotational direction of the drive gear 20. As shown in fig. 2, the upper driven gear 30 is coupled to a left end of the upper shaft 7 projecting outside the air-conditioning casing 2, and transmits the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the upper shaft 7. The rotational phase of the drive gear 20 by the actuator 11 is controlled by a control unit, not shown, constituted by a microcomputer or the like mounted on the vehicle.

As shown in fig. 1, the drive gear mechanism 10 further includes a rack 40 extending substantially in the vertical direction, and a lower driven gear 50 meshing with the rack 40. As shown in fig. 3, the lower driven gear 50 is coupled to a left end of the lower shaft 9 projecting outside the air conditioning casing 2. As shown in fig. 5, the rack 40 is formed with teeth that mesh with the drive gear 20 and the lower driven gear 50. The rack 40 is engaged at its upper portion with the driving gear 20 and at its lower portion with the lower driven gear 50. By the rack gear 40 meshing with the drive gear 20, the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 is transmitted to the rack gear 40 via the drive gear 20. The rack 40 is linearly moved substantially in the vertical direction in accordance with the rotation of the drive gear 20. Further, the rack 40 is engaged with the lower driving gear 50, and the rack 40 transmits the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the lower driven gear 50. In this way, the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 is transmitted to the lower shaft 9 via the drive gear 20, the rack 40, and the lower driven gear 50.

In the illustrated example, the rack 40 is meshed with the drive gear 20 and the lower driven gear 50 from a virtual plane S1 including the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Cx of the lower driven gear 50. Therefore, the lower driven gear 50 rotates in the same direction as the rotation direction of the drive gear 20. On the other hand, as described above, the upper driven gear 30 rotates in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the drive gear 20. As a result, the upper driven gear 30 and the lower driven gear 50 rotate in opposite directions. Thereby, the upper shaft 7 and the lower shaft 9 rotate in opposite directions, and the upper air mix door 6 and the lower air mix door 8 slide in opposite directions in the vertical direction.

The rack 40 is held by a holding mechanism, not shown, so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and is biased toward the drive gear 20 and the lower driven gear 50 by a biasing mechanism, not shown. This maintains the rack 40 in proper engagement with the drive gear 20 and the lower driven gear 50.

In the illustrated example, in the air conditioning apparatus 1, the air mix doors 6 and 8, the shafts 7 and 9, and the drive gear mechanism 10 are configured and assembled in the air conditioning casing 2 such that the lower air mix door 8 is located at the lower first position (see fig. 1) when the upper air mix door 6 is located at the upper first position (see fig. 1), and the lower air mix door 8 is located at the lower second position when the upper air mix door 6 is located at the upper second position. The respective positions of the upper air mix door 6 and the lower air mix door 8 are controlled based on target outlet air temperatures calculated using the operation mode and the set temperature of the air conditioner 1 set by the passenger, the actual temperature in the vehicle cabin, the amount of solar radiation received by the vehicle, the outside air temperature of the vehicle, and the like. This blows air into the vehicle cabin at a temperature corresponding to the operation mode, the set temperature, and the like of the air conditioner 1 set by the passenger.

As understood from the above description, the positions of the doors 6 and 8 correspond to the rotational phases of the drive gears 20. Therefore, the position of each of the doors 6 and 8 is controlled by controlling the rotational phase of the drive gear 20.

However, in the illustrated example, the drive gear mechanism 10 is configured such that the rotation speed of the lower driven gear 50 with respect to the rotation speed of the drive gear 20 is constant regardless of the rotation phase of the drive gear 20, while the rotation speed of the upper driven gear 30 with respect to the rotation speed of the drive gear 20 changes in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear 20. By configuring the drive gear mechanism 10 in this way, the rotation speed of the upper driven gear 30 with respect to the rotation speed of the lower driven gear 50 changes in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear 20. In addition, the displacement amount of the rotational phase of the upper shaft is made larger or smaller than the displacement amount of the rotational phase of the lower shaft in accordance with the rotational phase of the drive gear 20. By configuring the drive gear mechanism 10 in this way, the opening area of the upper detour 3a can be made larger or smaller than the opening area of the lower detour 3b depending on the rotational phase of the drive gear 20. As a result, the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet ducts 301 and 302 provided in the upper portion of the air-conditioning casing 2 can be made lower or higher than the temperature of the air blown out from the air outlet duct 303 provided in the lower portion of the air-conditioning casing 2, depending on the rotational phase of the drive gear 20. Such an air conditioner 1 is advantageous because, for example, the temperature of the air blown out into the vehicle compartment from each air outlet can be set to a temperature suitable for each operation mode.

The drive gear mechanism 10 will be described in more detail below.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the drive gear 20 includes a plurality of drive gear portions 21 and 22 having different reference circle diameters. The drive gear portions 21 and 22 are gears that rotate about the rotation axis Ax, and are arranged in a row along the direction in which the rotation axis Ax extends, as shown in fig. 2. The upper driven gear 30 has a plurality of driven gear portions 31 and 32 having different reference circular diameters. Each of the driven gear portions 31 and 32 is a gear that rotates about the rotation axis Bx, and is provided corresponding to the plurality of drive gear portions 21 and 22as shown in fig. 2.

In the example shown in fig. 4 and 5, the drive gear 20 includes a first drive gear portion 21 and a second drive gear portion 22. As shown in fig. 6, the reference diameters of the first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22 are reference diameters R21 and R22, respectively.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the upper driven gear 30 includes a first driven gear portion 31 and a second driven gear portion 32. As shown in fig. 2, the first driven gear part 31 is arranged on the same plane as the first drive gear part 21, and as shown in fig. 6, has a reference circular diameter R31 corresponding to the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21. As shown in fig. 2, the second driven gear portion 32 is arranged in a row on the same plane as the second drive gear portion 22, and as shown in fig. 6, has a reference circular diameter R32 corresponding to the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22.

As for the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30, the first drive gear portion 21 meshes with the first driven gear portion 31 or the second drive gear portion 22 meshes with the second driven gear portion 32 according to the rotational phase of the drive gear 20. In the illustrated example, the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 is larger than the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22, and accordingly, the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31 is smaller than the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32. Therefore, depending on the rotational phase of the drive gear 20, the drive gear portion 21 having the larger reference circular diameter meshes with the driven gear portion 31 having the smaller reference circular diameter, or the drive gear portion 22 having the smaller reference circular diameter meshes with the driven gear portion 32 having the larger reference circular diameter. Thereby, the rotation speed of the upper driven gear 30 with respect to the rotation speed of the drive gear 20 changes according to the rotation phase of the drive gear 20. Hereinafter, the meshing between the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 is referred to as "first meshing", and the meshing between the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 is referred to as "second meshing".

As shown in fig. 6, each of the first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22 includes: disk-shaped body portions 21a and 22a connected to the driving force transmission shaft 20S; and a plurality of teeth 21b, 22b provided on outer peripheral edges 21ae, 22ae of the main bodies 21a, 22 a. The first driven gear portion 31 and the second driven gear portion 32 each have: disk-shaped body portions 31a and 32a connected to the upper shaft 7; and a plurality of teeth 31b, 32b provided on outer peripheral edges 31ae, 32ae of the main bodies 31a, 32 a.

The plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 are provided in such a manner as to mesh with each other within a first rotational phase range in the full range of the rotational phase of the drive gear 20 (the full range of the rotational phase in which the drive gear 20 rotates when the upper air mix door 6 is moved from the upper first position to the upper second position and the lower air mix door 8 is moved from the lower first position to the lower second position). On the other hand, the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 are provided so as to mesh with each other in a second rotational phase range different from the first rotational phase range in the entire rotational phase range of the drive gear 20.

The first meshing is performed by the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31. When the drive gear 20 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 is transmitted from the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 to the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 via the driving force transmission shaft 20S. Hereinafter, the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31, which are used for transmitting the rotational drive force of the actuator 11 in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the drive gear 20, are both referred to as "teeth for first meshing".

The second meshing is performed by the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32. When the drive gear 20 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 is transmitted from the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear part 22 to the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear part 32 via the driving force transmission shaft 20S. Hereinafter, the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32, which are used for transmitting the rotational drive force of the actuator 11 in at least one of the clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of the drive gear 20, are both referred to as "teeth for second meshing".

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the drive gear 20 further includes a rack gear portion 23. The rack gear portion 23 is configured as a single gear, and rotates about the rotation axis Ax. As shown in fig. 2, the rack gear portion 23 is arranged in line with the drive gear portions 21 and 22 along the extending direction of the rotation axis Ax. The rack gear portion 23 meshes with the rack 40 over the entire rotational phase of the drive gear 20. Thereby, the rack 40 moves upward or downward at a constant speed over the entire rotational phase of the drive gear 20.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the lower driven gear 50 meshing with the rack 40 is configured as a single gear. The lower driven gear 50 meshes with the rack 40 that moves at the constant speed over the entire range of the rotational phase of the lower driven gear 50 (the entire range of the rotational phase in which the lower driven gear 50 rotates when the lower air mix door 8 is moved from the lower first position to the lower second position). Therefore, the lower driven gear 50 rotates at a constant rotation speed over the entire range of the rotation phase of the lower driven gear 50 (and therefore, over the entire range of the rotation phase of the drive gear 20).

By configuring the drive gear mechanism 10 as described above, the rotation speed of the upper driven gear 30 with respect to the rotation speed of the lower driven gear 50 changes in accordance with the rotation phase of the drive gear 20.

However, in the drive gear mechanism 10, the mesh between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 changes from the first mesh to the second mesh or from the second mesh to the first mesh while the drive gear 20 rotates in the full range of the rotational phase. That is, the teeth meshing with the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are changed from the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 to the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32. Alternatively, the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 are changed to the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31.

Here, even if the combination of the gear portions meshing with each other changes while the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 rotate as described above, if the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 and the assembly position of the air-conditioning casing 2 is an appropriate distance, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 can continue to rotate as desired. The appropriate distance is a distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 during the first meshing, which is the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31. During the second meshing, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32. Here, in the illustrated example, the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31 is equal to the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32.

Even if the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 and the assembly position of the air-conditioning case 2 is shorter than the above-described appropriate distance due to a dimensional error or an assembly error occurring in the drive gear mechanism 10, if the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are brought into first mesh with each other and the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 are brought into contact at a plurality of contact points (for example, if they are brought into contact at two or more points), the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 can continue to rotate as desired. The reason for this is that if the teeth of the drive gear 20 and the teeth of the upper driven gear 30 contact at a plurality of locations, the stress that inhibits the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 from approaching each other is sufficiently exerted, and the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is maintained at a distance suitable for the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 to continue rotating. Similarly, if the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are brought into second engagement and the teeth 22b of the second drive gear 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear 32 are brought into contact at a plurality of contact points (for example, if they are brought into contact at two or more points), the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 can also continue to rotate as desired.

As the main causes of dimensional errors and assembly errors occurring in the drive gear mechanism 10, there are, for example: there are cases where the air conditioning case 2 on which the drive gear 10 is disposed is deformed due to being generally a resin molded product; there are cases where the driving gear 20 and the driven gear 30 are deformed by using a resin material to reduce the weight; the position of the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 is affected by the mounting position of the actuator 11. Such a dimensional error or assembly error is relatively larger than a dimensional tolerance in each of the teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21, the teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear part 22, and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear part 32.

When the mesh between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 shifts from the first mesh to the second mesh, the contact area between the teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 decreases. When the second gear is shifted to the first gear, the number of contact points between the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 is reduced.

For example, when the mesh between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 shifts from the first mesh to the second mesh, the drive gear 20 rotates clockwise, and the upper driven gear 30 rotates counterclockwise. As a result, the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 sequentially mesh and contact with each other, and pass on an inter-axis line L connecting the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30. After passing on the inter-axis line L, the teeth 21b and 31b are sequentially separated from each other. Even if the teeth 21b, 31b passing on the inter-axis line L are separated from each other, if there are re-meshed teeth 21b, 31b in the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31, the contact site of the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31 is not reduced. However, after the last passing tooth 21bx on the inter-axis line L among the plurality of teeth 21b for the first meshing of the first drive gear part 21 meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth of the first driven gear part 31, there are no re-meshed teeth 21b, 31b in the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31. Therefore, the contact site of the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31 is reduced.

When the mesh between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 shifts from the second mesh to the first mesh, the drive gear 20 rotates counterclockwise and the upper driven gear 30 rotates clockwise. Thereby, the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 are sequentially meshed and contacted, while passing on the inter-axis line L. And, after passing on the inter-axis line L, these teeth 22b, 32b are sequentially separated from each other. Even if the teeth 22b, 32b passing on the inter-axis line L are separated from each other, if there are re-meshed teeth 22b, 32b in the second drive gear part 22 and the second driven gear part 32, the contact site of the second drive gear part 22 and the second driven gear part 32 is not reduced. However, after the last passing tooth 22by on the inter-axis line L among the plurality of teeth 22b for the second meshing of the second drive gear part 22 meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear part 32, there are no re-meshed teeth 22b, 32b in the second drive gear part 22 and the second driven gear part 32. Therefore, the contact site of the second drive gear part 22 and the second driven gear part 32 is reduced.

As described above, when the contact portion between the tooth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the tooth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 or the contact portion between the tooth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the tooth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 is reduced, stress for suppressing the above-described approach between the teeth 21b and 22b of the drive gear 20 and the teeth 31b and 32b of the upper driven gear 30 does not sufficiently act when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is short. Thus, the drive gear 20 is caused to approach the upper driven gear 30.

When the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are too close, the following problems occur. That is, when the first gear is shifted to the second gear, the teeth 22b and 32b of the second drive gear 22 and the second driven gear 32, which are to be re-engaged, collide with each other, and the second gear cannot be engaged. Specifically, since the drive gear 20 is close to the upper driven gear 30, when the shift is made from the first mesh to the second mesh, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22, which are to be re-meshed, contact the tooth tips (crests) of the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32, which are to be re-meshed. Then, the rotation of the drive gear 20 is stopped and cannot be shifted to the second engagement. In this way, there is a case where a state in which the continuous meshing and separation of the teeth 21, 31 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 31 are stopped by unintended contact between the gears is called a locked state. When the second gear is shifted to the first gear, the teeth 21b and 31b of the first drive gear 21 and the first driven gear 31, which are to be re-engaged, collide with each other, and the first gear cannot be engaged.

In view of the above, in the illustrated example, when shifting from the first engagement to the second engagement or from the second engagement to the first engagement, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are configured as follows so that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 do not come too close to each other. By configuring the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 as described below, the gears 20 and 30 are prevented from being locked.

That is, the sum of the radial distance Ltx from the tooth tip of the first end tooth 31Bx, which passes on the axial line L last when the first mesh is shifted to the second mesh, of the plurality of teeth 21b, 31b of the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31 to the rotation axis Bx of the gear part 31 having the first end tooth 31Bx, and the radial distance Lsx from the surface 21Ax of the main body part 21 of the gear part 21, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the first end tooth 31Bx on the axial line L, to the rotation axis Ax of the gear part 21 having the main body part 21a, and the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32 is equal to or greater than the sum.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the surface 21Ax of the main body 21a facing the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31bx is located radially outward of the surface 21as of the main body 21a of the gear portion 21 facing the tooth tip of the tooth other than the first-end tooth 31bx of the plurality of teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31bx on the inter-axis line L with respect to a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 21. Even if the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 are formed in the same shape as the first-end teeth 31bx, the tips of the plurality of teeth 31b do not come into contact with the surface 21as of the main body portion 21a of the first drive gear 21, and therefore, the first driven gear part 31 can be easily manufactured and the gears 20 and 30 can be prevented from being locked.

More specifically, the main body 21a of the gear portion 21 meshing with the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31bx has a protruding portion 21az protruding radially outward of a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the main body 21a at a position facing the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31 bx. By providing the projecting portion 21az, the surface 21Ax of the main body portion 21a of the first drive gear portion 21, which faces the tooth tip of the first end tooth 31bx, is located radially outward of the surface 21as of the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21 with respect to a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the surface 21Ax of the main body portion 21a facing the tip of the first-end tooth 31bx is located radially outward of a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax from a point on the outer peripheral edge 21ae of the main body portion 21a having the surface 21Ax where the radial distance to the rotation axis Ax is shortest. More specifically, in the example shown in fig. 6, the outer peripheral edge 21ae of the main body portion 21a is substantially circular, and the radial distance from the outer peripheral edge 21ae of the main body portion 21a to the rotation axis Ax is equal at any point on the outer peripheral edge 21ae except for the region where the protruding portion 21az is provided. Therefore, the surface 21Ax of the main body portion 21a opposed to the tip of the first-end tooth 31bx is located further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Ax than any point (for example, a point near the projecting portion 21 az) in the region other than the region where the projecting portion 21az is provided on the outer peripheral edge 21ae of the main body portion 21 a.

By configuring the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the second meshing, it is prevented that the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is too close to make the second meshing impossible when the first meshing is shifted to the second meshing. That is, the gears 20, 30 are prevented from being in the locked state. That is, according to the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31, when the distance at the assembly position is short, after the tooth 21bx passing on the axis line L at the end among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 used for the first meshing meshes with the corresponding tooth of the first driven gear portion 31, the tooth tip of the tooth 31bx at the first end abuts against the surface 21ax of the projecting portion 21 az. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32. That is, the distance between the driving gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the second engagement. As a result, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 can be second meshed without colliding with each other.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the sum of the radial distance Lty from the tooth tip of the second end tooth 22by which the tooth tip passes on the axial line L at the end to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 22 having the second end tooth 22by, among the plurality of teeth 22b, 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, at the time of transition from the second mesh to the first mesh, and the radial distance Lsy from the surface 32ay of the gear portion 32, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the second end tooth 22by on the axial line L, to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the main body portion 32a, and the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31 is equal to or greater than the sum.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a facing the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by is located radially outward of the surface 32as of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 facing the tooth tip of the tooth other than the second-end tooth 22by among the plurality of teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by on the inter-axis line L with respect to a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32. Even if the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 are formed in the same shape as the second-end teeth 22by, the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth 22b do not come into contact with the surface 32as of the body portion 31a of the second driven gear 32, so that the manufacture of the second drive gear portion 22 is facilitated, and the gears 20 and 30 can be prevented from being in the locked state.

More specifically, the main body 32a of the gear portion 32 meshing with the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by has a protruding portion 32az protruding outward in a radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the main body 32a at a position facing the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22 by. By providing the projecting portion 32az, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a of the second driven gear portion 32, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by, is located radially outward of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx than the above-mentioned surface 32as of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32.

In the example shown in fig. 6, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by is located further outward in the radial direction than the point on the outer peripheral edge 32ae of the main body portion 32a having the surface 32ay where the radial direction distance to the rotation axis Bx is shortest, on the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx. More specifically, in the example shown in fig. 6, the outer peripheral edge 32ae of the main body portion 32a is substantially circular, and the radial distance from the outer peripheral edge 32ae of the main body portion 32a to the rotation axis Bx is equal at any point on the outer peripheral edge 32ae except for the region where the protruding portion 32az is provided. Therefore, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a opposed to the tip of the second-end tooth 22by is located further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx than any point in the region other than the region where the projecting portion 32az is provided on the outer peripheral edge 32ae of the main body portion 32a (e.g., a point near the projecting portion 32 az).

By configuring the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the first mesh, it is possible to prevent the first mesh from being made impossible due to the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 becoming too close to each other when the second mesh is shifted to the first mesh. That is, according to the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, when the distance at the assembly position is short, the tooth 22by (in the example shown in fig. 6, the same tooth as the second end tooth 22by) that passes on the axis line L at the end among the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 for the second meshing engages with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32, and then the tooth tip of the second end tooth 22by abuts against the surface 32ay of the projecting portion 32 az. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31. That is, the distance between the driving gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the first mesh. As a result, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 can be first meshed without colliding with each other.

In the example shown in fig. 6, among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21, the tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh is different from the tooth 31bx at the first end. However, the tooth of the first end may be one of the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21. In this case, among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21, the tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh is the same tooth as the tooth at the first end. Further, among the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22, the tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh is the same tooth as the tooth 22by of the second end. However, the tooth of the second end may be one of the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32. In this case, among the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22, the tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh is different from the tooth of the second end.

Note that the drive door mechanism 10 may be used as a drive door mechanism for driving the shafts 301s, 302s, 303s of the blowout path doors 301D, 302D, 303D.

Next, the operation of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh and when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh will be described with reference to fig. 7A to 8C. Here, a case will be described as an example where the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the first mesh and shorter than the distance suitable for the second mesh due to an assembly error or the like occurring in the drive gear mechanism 10.

First, the operation of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh will be described with reference to fig. 7A to 7C. In fig. 7A to 7C, the contact portions of the teeth 21b and 31b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 are indicated by black triangles, and the contact portions of the teeth 22b and 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 are indicated by white triangles.

First, as shown in fig. 7A, a first meshing is performed between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30, and the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 mesh with the teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31. When the actuator 11 is operated and the drive gear 20 is rotated in the clockwise direction in this state, the upper driven gear 30 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in accordance therewith. Further, the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 for the first meshing and the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 alternately pass on the inter-axis line L. During this time, the teeth 21b and 31b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 come into contact at a plurality of contact points (two points in the illustrated example). Therefore, a force (a stress for suppressing the approach) for pushing each other between the teeth 21b and 31b in contact with each other sufficiently acts. Then, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is kept at a distance suitable for the first meshing (the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is the distance of the sum of the reference circle diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circle diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31) by the force of the pushing of the teeth 21b and the teeth 31 b.

Then, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, and the tooth 21bx that has passed on the axis line L last among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth of the first driven gear portion 31. In this state, the teeth 21bx approach the axial line L. At the same time, the first-end tooth 31bx, which has passed through the line L between the shafts last among the plurality of teeth 21b, 31b of the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31, approaches the line L between the shafts. Here, as described above, after the teeth 21bx come into contact with the corresponding teeth of the first driven gear portion 31, there are no re-meshing (contacting) teeth 21b, 31b in the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31. Therefore, as shown in fig. 7B, when the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, the contact area between the teeth 21B of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31B of the first driven gear portion 31 is reduced. When the contact point is decreased, the mutual pushing force between the teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 does not work sufficiently.

However, as shown in fig. 7B, after the above-described teeth 21bx come into contact with the corresponding teeth of the first driven gear portion 31, the tooth tips of the first-end teeth 31bx come into contact with the surface 21ax of the main body portion 21a of the opposite gear portion 21. Thereby, it is prevented that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 approach each other with a distance smaller than a distance suitable for the second meshing (a distance between the rotation axis Ax and the rotation axis Bx is a distance of a sum of the reference circular diameter R22 and the reference circular diameter R32). Thereby, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 mesh without colliding with each other.

As shown in fig. 7C, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, and the teeth 22b of the second drive gear 22 and the teeth 32 of the second driven gear 32 come into contact with each other at a plurality of contact points (two points in the illustrated example). Thereby, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is maintained at a distance suitable for the second meshing (the distance between the rotation axis Ax and the rotation axis Bx is the distance of the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 and the reference circular diameter R32).

Next, the operation of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh will be described with reference to fig. 8A to 8C. In fig. 8A to 8C, white triangles show the contact points of the teeth 22b and 32b of the second drive gear 22 and the second driven gear 32, and black triangles show the contact points of the teeth 21b and 31b of the first drive gear 21 and the first driven gear 31.

First, as shown in fig. 8A, the second meshing is performed between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30, and the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 mesh with the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32. When the actuator 11 is operated and the drive gear 20 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in this state, the upper driven gear 30 is rotated in the clockwise direction in accordance therewith. And, the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear part 22 for the second meshing and the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear part 32 alternately pass on the inter-shaft line L. During this time, the teeth 22b and 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 come into contact at a plurality of contact points (two points in the illustrated example). Therefore, a force (a stress for suppressing the approach) for pushing each other between the teeth 22b and 32b in contact with each other sufficiently acts. Then, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is kept at a distance suitable for the second meshing (the distance between the rotation axis Ax and the rotation axis Bx is the distance of the sum of the reference circle diameter R22 and the reference circle diameter R32) by the pushing force of the teeth 22b and the teeth 32 b.

Then, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, and the tooth 22by that has passed on the axial line L last among the plurality of teeth 21b of the second drive gear portion 22 meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32. In this state, the teeth 22by approach the axial line L. The tooth 22by is also a second end tooth 22by which the plurality of teeth 22b, 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 finally pass on the inter-axis line L when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh. Here, as described above, after the teeth 22by come into contact with the corresponding teeth of the second driven gear portion 32, there are no teeth 22b, 32b that are re-meshed (contacted) in the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32. Therefore, as shown in fig. 8B, when the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, the contact area between the teeth 22B of the second drive gear 22 and the teeth 32B of the second driven gear 32 is reduced. When the contact point is decreased, the mutual pushing force between the teeth 22b of the second drive gear part 22 and the teeth 32b of the first driven gear part 32 does not work sufficiently.

However, as shown in fig. 8B, after the tooth 22by comes into contact with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32, the tooth tip of the tooth (second-end tooth) 22by comes into contact with the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a of the opposing gear portion 32. Thereby, it is prevented that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 approach each other with a distance smaller than a distance suitable for the first mesh (a distance between the rotation axis Ax and the rotation axis Bx is a distance of a sum of the reference circular diameter R21 and the reference circular diameter R31). Thus, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 mesh without colliding with each other.

As shown in fig. 8C, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 continue to rotate, and the teeth 21b of the first drive gear 21 and the teeth 31 of the first driven gear 31 come into contact with each other at a plurality of contact points (two points in the illustrated example). Thereby, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is maintained at a distance suitable for the first mesh (the distance between the rotation axis Ax and the rotation axis Bx is the distance of the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 and the reference circular diameter R31).

< modification 1 >

Next, a modified example 1 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 11. Fig. 9 is a side view showing the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to modification 1. Fig. 10 is a partially enlarged view for explaining the operation of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh, and fig. 11 is a partially enlarged view for explaining the operation of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh.

In modification 1 shown in fig. 9 to 11, as compared with the drive gear mechanism 10 shown in fig. 1 to 8C, there are differences in points where the projecting portion 21az is not provided in the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21 meshing with the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31bx, and in points where the first-end tooth 31bx extends radially outward beyond the other teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31 bx. Further, the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 meshing with the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by is not provided with the projecting portion 32az, and the second-end tooth 22by extends radially outward beyond the other teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22 by. The other structure is substantially the same as that of the air conditioner 1 shown in fig. 1 to 8C. In modification 1 shown in fig. 9 to 11, the same portions as those of the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 8C are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In fig. 10, the contact portions of the teeth 21b and 31b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 are indicated by black triangles. In fig. 11, the contact points of the teeth 22b and 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 are indicated by white triangles.

In the example shown in fig. 9, the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31Bx is located radially outward of the tooth tip of the tooth other than the first-end tooth 31Bx, out of the plurality of teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31Bx, from a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31. Thus, the sum of the radial distance Ltx from the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31Bx to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31Bx and the radial distance Lsx from the surface 21Ax of the main body 21a of the gear portion 21, which faces the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31Bx on the inter-axis line L, to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 21 having the main body 21a is equal to or greater than the reference circle diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circle diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

More specifically, the surface 21Ax of the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31bx on the inter-axis line L, is located on the same circle centered on the rotation axis Ax as the above-mentioned surface 21as of the main body portion 21a of the first drive gear portion 21. On the other hand, the first-end tooth 31Bx has an extension 31bz extending outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31 from the tooth tip of a tooth other than the first-end tooth 31Bx among the plurality of teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31 Bx. By providing the projecting portion 31bz, the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31Bx is positioned further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31 than the tooth tip of the tooth other than the first-end tooth 31Bx among the plurality of teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31 Bx.

By configuring the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the second meshing, it is prevented that the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is too close to make the second meshing impossible when the first meshing is shifted to the second meshing. That is, according to the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31, as shown in fig. 10, when the distance at the assembly position is short, when the first mesh is shifted to the second mesh, the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31bx abuts against the surface 21ax of the body portion 21 after the tooth 21bx that passes the line L between the axes, out of the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 used for the first mesh, is meshed with the corresponding tooth of the first driven gear portion 31. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the second engagement. As a result, the teeth of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth of the second driven gear portion 32 can be second meshed without colliding with each other.

In the example shown in fig. 9, the tooth tips of the second-end teeth 22by are located radially outward of the tooth tips of the teeth other than the second-end teeth 22by, among the plurality of teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end teeth 22by, a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 22. Thus, the sum of the radial distance Lty from the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by and the radial distance Lsy from the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by on the inter-axial line L to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the main body portion 32a is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

More specifically, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by on the inter-axis line L, is located on the same circle centered on the rotation axis Bx as the above-described surface 32as of the main body portion 32 a. On the other hand, the second-end tooth 22by has an extension 22bz extending outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 22 from the tooth tip of a tooth other than the second-end tooth 22by among the plurality of teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22 by. By providing the projecting portion 22bz, the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by is positioned further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 22 than the tooth tip of the tooth other than the second-end tooth 22by, among the plurality of teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22 by.

By configuring the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the first meshing, it is prevented that the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is too close to cause the first meshing to be impossible when the second meshing is shifted to the first meshing. That is, according to the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, as shown in fig. 11, when the distance of the assembly position is short, when the second mesh is shifted to the first mesh, the tooth 22by which the tooth passes on the axis line L last among the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 for the second mesh is meshed with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32, and then the tooth tip of the tooth 22by at the second end abuts on the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32 a. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the first mesh. As a result, the teeth of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth of the first driven gear portion 31 can be first meshed without colliding with each other.

< modification 2 >

Next, a modified example 2 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a side view showing the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to modification 2.

In modification 2 shown in fig. 12, the drive gear mechanism 10 shown in fig. 1 to 8C differs in that the first-end teeth are provided on the drive gear 20, and the gear portion meshing with the gear portion having the first-end teeth is a point of the upper driven gear 30 and a point of the teeth provided over the entire circumference of the gear portions 21 and 22 of the drive gear 20. The other structure is substantially the same as that of the air conditioner 1 shown in fig. 1 to 8C. In modification 2 shown in fig. 12, the same portions as those of the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 8C are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the modification shown in fig. 12, the teeth 21b and 21c are provided over the entire circumference of the body portion 21a of the first drive gear portion 21. Further, the teeth 22b and 22c are provided over the entire circumference of the body portion 22a of the second drive gear portion 22. According to the driving gear 20, when the driving gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 are assembled to the air-conditioning casing 2, it is not necessary to consider the angular positions of the driving gear and the upper driven gear with respect to each other. Therefore, the assembly of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 becomes easy.

Of the plurality of teeth 21b and 21c of the first drive gear portion 21, only the tooth 21b is used for the first meshing. That is, only the teeth 21b come into contact with the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 when the drive gear 20 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, and transmit the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the first driven gear part 31. The other teeth 21c do not contribute to the transmission of the rotational driving force to the first driven gear part 31. In addition, of the plurality of teeth 22b, 22c of the second drive gear portion 22, only the tooth 22b is used for the second meshing. That is, only the teeth 22b come into contact with the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 when the drive gear 20 rotates in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, and transmit the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the second driven gear portion 32. The other teeth 22c do not contribute to the transmission of the above-described rotational driving force to the second driven gear portion 32.

In the modification shown in fig. 12, the first end tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L at the end of the transition from the first mesh to the second mesh, among the plurality of teeth 21b, 31b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31, is the tooth 21bx of the first drive gear portion 21. The surface of the main body of the gear portion facing the tooth tip of the first end tooth 21bx on the inter-axis line L is the surface 31ax of the main body 31a of the first driven gear portion 31.

In the example shown in fig. 12, the surface 31ax of the body portion 31a facing the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 21Bx is located radially outward of the surface 31as of the body portion 31a of the gear portion 31 facing the tooth tip of the tooth other than the first-end tooth 21Bx, of the plurality of teeth 21b for first meshing of the gear portion 21 having the first-end tooth 21Bx on the inter-axis line L, on a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31. Thus, the sum of the radial distance Ltx from the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 21Bx to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 21 having the first-end tooth 21Bx and the radial distance Lsx from the surface 31Ax of the main body portion 31a of the gear portion 31 opposed to the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 21Bx on the inter-axis line L to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 31 having the main body portion 31a is equal to or greater than the reference circle diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circle diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

More specifically, the body 31a of the gear portion 31 meshing with the gear portion 21 having the first-end tooth 21Bx has a protruding portion 31az protruding radially outward of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the body 31a at a position facing the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 21 Bx. By providing the projecting portion 31az, the surface 31ax of the body portion 31a of the first driven gear portion 31, which faces the tooth tip of the first end tooth 21Bx, is located radially outward of the surface 31as of the body portion 31a of the gear portion 31 with respect to a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31.

In the example shown in fig. 12, the surface 31ax of the body 31a facing the tip of the first-end tooth 21Bx is located radially outward of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx from a point on the outer peripheral edge 31ae of the body 31a having the surface 31ax where the radial distance to the rotation axis Bx is shortest. More specifically, in the example shown in fig. 12, the outer peripheral edge 31ae of the main body portion 31a is substantially circular in shape, and the radial distance from the outer peripheral edge 31ae of the main body portion 31a to the rotation axis Bx is equal at any point on the outer peripheral edge 31ae except for the region where the protruding portion 31az is provided. Therefore, the surface 31ax of the body portion 31a opposed to the tip of the first-end tooth 21Bx is located further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx than any point (for example, a point near the protruding portion 31 az) in the region other than the region where the protruding portion 31az is provided on the outer peripheral edge 31ae of the body portion 31 a.

In such a first drive gear portion 21 and a first driven gear portion 31, when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh, after a tooth 21bx passing through the line L between the axes last among the teeth 21b used for the first mesh of the first drive gear portion 21 meshes with the corresponding tooth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31, the tooth tip of the tooth (first-end tooth) 21bx also abuts against the surface 31ax of the main body portion 31a of the gear portion 31 facing thereto. Therefore, it is prevented that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 approach each other and the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is smaller than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the second engagement. Thereby, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 can be meshed without colliding with each other.

In this way, the first end teeth may be provided in the first drive gear portion 21 or in the first driven gear portion 31. In other words, the protruding portion that abuts the tooth tip of the first end tooth on the inter-axis line L may be provided in the first drive gear portion 21 or may be provided in the first driven gear portion.

Similarly, the second end teeth may be provided in the second drive gear portion 22 or the second driven gear portion 32. In other words, the protruding portion that abuts the tooth tip of the second-end tooth on the inter-axis line L may be provided in the second drive gear portion 22 or the second driven gear portion 32.

In the example shown in fig. 12, the projections 31az and 32az are provided on the upper driven gear 30. In the case where the protruding portion is provided only on one gear, the protruding portion may be provided by performing processing or treatment for providing the protruding portion only on the gear portion of the one gear, so long as the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is kept at an appropriate distance. For example, when the protruding portion is provided on the upper driven gear 30, a gear having high versatility is used as the drive gear 20, and the protruding portions 31az and 32az having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the drive gear 20 may be provided on the upper driven gear 30. The above is associated with an increase in productivity of the drive gear mechanism 10.

< modification 3 >

Next, a modified example 3 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a side view showing the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to modification 3.

In modification 3 shown in fig. 13, the drive gear mechanism 10 shown in fig. 9 to 11 differs in that the second-end teeth are provided in the second driven gear portion 32, and the gear portion meshing with the gear portion having the second-end teeth is the second drive gear portion 22. The other structure is substantially the same as the air conditioner 1 shown in fig. 9 to 11. In modification 3 shown in fig. 13, the same portions as those in the embodiment shown in fig. 9 to 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the modification shown in fig. 13, of the plurality of teeth 21b and 31b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, the tooth at the second end that passes on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh is the tooth 32by of the second driven gear portion 32. The surface of the main body portion of the gear portion facing the tooth tip of the second end tooth 32by on the inter-axis line L is the surface 22ay of the main body portion 22a of the second drive gear portion 22.

In the example shown in fig. 13, the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 32by is located radially outward of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32, from among the plurality of teeth 32b of the gear portion 32 having the second-end tooth 32by, the tooth tips of the teeth other than the second-end tooth 32 by. Thus, the sum of the radial distance Lty from the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 32by to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the second-end tooth 32by and the radial distance Lsy from the surface 22ay of the main body portion 22a of the gear portion 22 opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 32by on the inter-axial line L to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 22 having the main body portion 22a is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

More specifically, the surface 22Ax of the main body portion 22a of the gear portion 22, which is opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 32by on the inter-axis line L, is located on the same circle centered on the rotation axis Ax as the above-mentioned surface 22as of the main body portion 22a of the second drive gear portion 22. On the other hand, the second-end tooth 32by has an extension 32bz extending outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32 from the tooth tips of the teeth other than the second-end tooth 32by among the plurality of teeth 32b of the gear portion 32 having the second-end tooth 32 by. By providing the projecting portion 32bz, the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 32by is positioned further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32 than the tooth tip of the tooth other than the second-end tooth 32by, among the plurality of teeth 32b of the gear portion 32 having the second-end tooth 32 by.

In the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, when the transition from the second mesh to the first mesh is made, the tooth tip of the tooth 22by at the second end comes into contact with the surface 22ay of the main body portion 22a of the gear portion 22 facing thereto after the tooth 22by which the last of the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 passes on the inter-axis line L is meshed with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32. Therefore, it is prevented that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 approach each other and the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is smaller than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the first mesh. Thereby, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear part 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 can be meshed without colliding with each other.

In this way, the teeth having the second end of the projecting portion may be provided in the second drive gear portion 22 or the second driven gear portion 32. Similarly, the teeth having the first end of the protruding portion may be provided in the first drive gear portion 21 or may be provided in the first driven gear portion 31.

In the example shown in fig. 13, the extension portions 31bz and 32bz are provided in the upper driven gear 30. In the case where the protruding portion is provided only on one gear, the protruding portion may be provided to keep the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 at an appropriate distance, and only the gear portion of the one gear may be subjected to processing or treatment for providing the protruding portion. For example, when the protruding portion is provided on the upper driven gear 30, a gear having high versatility is used as the drive gear 20, and the protruding portions 31bz and 32bz having a size corresponding to the size of the drive gear 20 may be provided on the upper driven gear 30. The above is associated with an increase in productivity of the drive gear mechanism 10.

In the first embodiment and the modification described above, the drive gear mechanism 10 is the drive gear mechanism 10 that drives the doors 6 and 8 that change the flow of air flowing through the air duct 3 in the vehicle air conditioning apparatus 1 having the air conditioning casing 2 in which the air duct 3 through which air flows is formed. The drive gear mechanism 10 includes: an actuator 11 that generates a rotational driving force; a drive gear 20 driven to rotate by the actuator 11; (ii) a And a driven gear 30 connected to the shaft 7 of the drive doors 6 and 8, and engaged with the drive gear 20 to transmit the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the shaft 7. The drive gear 20 has a first drive gear portion 21 and a second drive gear portion 22 having different reference circular diameters R21 and R22. The driven gear 30 includes a first driven gear portion 31 and a second driven gear portion 32 having different reference circular diameters R31 and R32, respectively, provided corresponding to the first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22. The meshing between the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 is performed by the first meshing between the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 or the second meshing between the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 according to the rotational phase of the drive gear 20. The first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22 each have: main body portions 21a and 22a connected to the actuator 11; and a plurality of teeth 21b and 22b provided in the body portions 21a and 22a for first meshing with the first driven gear portion 31 or second meshing with the second driven gear portion 32. The first driven gear portion 31 and the second driven gear portion 32 each have: main body portions 31a and 32a connected to the shaft 7; and a plurality of teeth 31b and 32b provided on the main bodies 31a and 32a for first meshing with the first drive gear portion 21 or second meshing with the second drive gear portion 22. The radial distance Ltx from the tooth tip of the first end tooth 21Bx, 31Bx, which passes on the axial line L connecting the rotational axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotational axis Bx of the driven gear 30 at the end when the first mesh is shifted to the second mesh, among the plurality of teeth 21b, 31b of the first drive gear part 21 and the first driven gear part 31, to the rotational axis Ax, Bx of the gear part 21, 31 having the first end tooth 21Bx, 31Bx, is equal to or greater than the sum of the radial distances Lsx of the rotational axes Bx, Ax of the gear parts 31, 21 having the first end tooth 21Bx, 31Bx on the axial line L, and the reference circle diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circle diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 22.

According to the drive mechanism 10, even if the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 becomes short due to a dimensional error, an assembly error, or the like occurring in the drive mechanism 10, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 can be meshed without colliding with each other when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh.

For example, the surfaces 31Ax, 21Ax of the main bodies 31a, 21a opposed to the tooth tips of the first-end teeth 21Bx, 31Bx are located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axes Bx, Ax of the gear portions 31, 21 than the surfaces 31as, 21as of the main bodies 31a, 21a of the gear portions 31, 21 opposed to the tooth tips of the teeth other than the first-end teeth 21Bx, 31Bx, among the plurality of teeth 21b, 31b of the gear portions 21, 31 having the first-end teeth 21Bx, 31Bx on the inter-axis line L. By configuring the gear portions 31, 21 to mesh with the gear portions 21, 31 having the first-end teeth 21bx, 31bx in this manner, the sum of the radial distance Ltx and the radial distance Lsx can be equal to or larger than the sum of the reference circle diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circle diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

For example, the surfaces 31Ax, 21Ax of the body portions 31a, 21a opposed to the tooth tips of the first-end teeth 21Bx, 31Bx are located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axes Bx, Ax than the point on the outer peripheral edges 31ae, 21ae of the body portions 31a, 21a having the surfaces 31Ax, 21Ax where the distance in the radial direction from the rotation axes Bx, Ax of the gear portions 31, 21 having the body portions 31a, 21a is shortest. By configuring the gear portions 31, 21 to mesh with the gear portions 21, 31 having the first-end teeth 21bx, 31bx in this manner, the sum of the radial distance Ltx and the radial distance Lsx can be equal to or larger than the sum of the reference circle diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circle diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

In the first embodiment or the modification, the first-end teeth 21bx are provided in the first drive gear portion 21.

Alternatively, the tooth tip of the first-end tooth 31Bx is located radially outward of the tooth tip of the tooth other than the first-end tooth 31Bx, among the plurality of teeth 31b of the gear portion 31 having the first-end tooth 31Bx, from a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31. By configuring the gear portions 21, 31 having the first-end teeth 21bx, 31bx in this way, the sum of the radial distance Ltx and the radial distance Lsx can be equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

In the first embodiment or the modification, the first-end teeth 31bx are provided in the first driven gear portion 31.

In the first embodiment or the modification, the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31 and the reference circular diameter lx of the rotational axes Bx, Ax of the gear portions 32, 22 opposite to the tooth tips of the second end teeth 22by, 32by on the inter-axis line L is equal to or greater than the sum of the radial distance Lty from the tooth tips of the second end teeth 22by, 32by, out of the plurality of teeth 22b, 32b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, to the rotational axes Ax, Bx of the gear portions 22, 32 having the second end teeth 22by, 32by, on the inter-axis line L, to the radial distances Lsy of the main body portions 32a, 22a of the gear portions 32, 22 having the main body portions 32a, 22 a.

According to the drive mechanism 10, even if the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 becomes short due to a dimensional error, an assembly error, or the like occurring in the drive mechanism 10, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 can be meshed without colliding with each other when the first mesh is shifted to the second mesh.

For example, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a facing the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by is located radially outward of the surface 32as of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 facing the tooth tip of the tooth other than the second-end tooth 22by, among the plurality of teeth 22b of the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by on the inter-axis line L, the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32. By configuring the gear portion 32 to mesh with the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by in this way, the sum of the radial distance Lty and the radial distance Lsy can be equal to or larger than the sum of the reference circle diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circle diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

Further, for example, the surface 32ay of the main body portion 32a opposed to the tooth tip of the second-end tooth 22by is located further outward in the radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx than a point on the outer peripheral edge 32ae of the main body portion 32a having the surface 32ay where the radial direction distance to the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the main body portion 32a is shortest. By configuring the gear portion 32 to mesh with the gear portion 22 having the second-end tooth 22by in this way, the sum of the radial distance Lty and the radial distance Lsy can be equal to or larger than the sum of the reference circle diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circle diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

In the first embodiment or the modified example, the second-end teeth 22by are provided in the second drive gear portion 22.

Alternatively, the tooth tips of the second-end teeth 22by, 32by are positioned radially outward of the circle centered on the rotation axes Ax, Bx of the gear portions 22, 32, among the plurality of teeth 22b, 32b of the gear portions 22, 32 having the second-end teeth 22by, 32by, except for the second-end teeth 22by, 32 by. By configuring the gear portion 22 having the teeth 22by at the second end in this manner, the sum of the radial distance Lty and the radial distance Lsy can be equal to or larger than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

In the first embodiment and the modified examples, the second-end teeth 32by are provided on the second driven gear portion 32.

< second embodiment >

Next, the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14 to 16. Fig. 14 is a side view showing the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 of the drive gear mechanism 10 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 15 and 16 are partially enlarged views of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 shown in fig. 14.

In the example shown in fig. 14 to 16, the second drive gear portion has the first additional teeth, and the distance between the drive gear and the upper driven gear when the transition from the first mesh to the second mesh is prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the second mesh by the first additional teeth and the surface of the main body portion of the gear portion facing the tooth tip of the first additional teeth, as compared with the drive gear mechanism 10 shown in fig. 1 to 8C. Further, the first driven gear portion includes a second additional tooth, and the distance between the drive gear and the upper driven gear when the second mesh is shifted to the first mesh is prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the first mesh by the second additional tooth and the surface of the main body portion of the gear portion facing the tooth tip of the second additional tooth. The other structure is substantially the same as that of the air conditioner 1 shown in fig. 1 to 8C. In the examples shown in fig. 14 to 16, the same portions as those of the first embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 8C are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Hereinafter, among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 for the first mesh, the teeth 21bp that pass on the inter-axis line L last when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh are all referred to as "teeth of the third end". The third-end tooth 21bp is also a tooth that passes on the inter-axis line L first when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh, among the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 for the first mesh.

Among the plurality of teeth 22b for the second mesh of the second drive gear portion 22, the teeth 22bq that pass on the inter-axis line L first when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh are all referred to as "fourth-end teeth". The fourth-end tooth 22bq is also a tooth that passes on the inter-shaft line L at the end when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh, among the plurality of teeth 22b for the second mesh of the second drive gear portion 22.

In the example shown in fig. 14, the second drive gear portion 22 has first additional teeth 22cr in addition to the plurality of teeth 22 b. The first additional tooth 22cr is provided so as to pass on the axial line L before the fourth end tooth 22bq when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh. Specifically, the first additional tooth 22cr is provided so as to pass through the inter-axis line L while coming into contact with any one of the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 and the fourth-end tooth 22bq from the third-end tooth 21bp to reach the inter-axis line L when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh.

The sum of the radial distance Ltr from the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 22 having the first additional tooth 22cr, the radial distance Lsr from the surface 32ar of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 facing the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr on the inter-axis line L to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the main body portion 32a, and the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32 is equal to or greater than the sum.

More specifically, the main body 32a of the gear portion 32 meshing with the gear portion 22 having the first additional tooth 22cr has a protruding portion 32aw protruding outward in a radial direction of a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the main body 32a at a position facing the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22 cr. By providing the projecting portion 32aw, the surface 32ar of the main body portion 32a of the second driven gear portion 32 opposed to the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr is located radially outward of the surface 32as of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 from the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx.

By configuring the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the second meshing, it is prevented that the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 come too close to each other to cause the second meshing when the first meshing is shifted to the second meshing. That is, as shown in fig. 15, according to the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32, when the distance at the assembly position is shorter than the distance suitable for the second meshing, the tooth point of the first additional tooth 22cr comes into contact with the surface 32ar of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 facing thereto after the tooth 21bp at the third end meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 at the time of transition from the first meshing to the second meshing. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being smaller than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear part 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear part 32. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the second engagement. As a result, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 can be second meshed without colliding with each other.

Of course, the configuration of the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 is not limited to this. For example, the surface 32ar may not protrude outward from the surface 32as of the main body portion 32a of the second driven gear portion 32. In this case, the first additional tooth 22cr may extend outward from the plurality of teeth 22b for the second meshing of the second drive gear part 22, and the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr may be located radially outward from the tooth tip of the plurality of teeth 22b on a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the second drive gear part 22. The second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 also prevent the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 from being smaller than the distance suitable for the second mesh when the first mesh is shifted to the second mesh.

The first additional teeth may be provided in the second driven gear portion 32. In this case, the surface of the second drive gear portion 22 facing the first additional tooth on the inter-axis line L may be located further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the second drive gear portion 22 than the surface 22as of the main body portion 22a of the second drive gear portion 22 facing the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 on the inter-axis line L. Alternatively, the surface of the second drive gear portion 22 facing the first additional tooth on the inter-axis line L may not protrude further outward than the surface 22as of the main body portion 22a of the second drive gear portion 22, but the first additional tooth may extend further outward than the plurality of teeth 32b for the second meshing of the second driven gear portion 32. That is, the tooth point of the first additional tooth may be located radially outward of the tooth points of the plurality of teeth 32b from a circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the second driven gear portion 32. The second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 also prevent the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 from being smaller than the distance suitable for the second mesh when the shift is made from the first mesh to the second mesh.

In the example shown in fig. 14, the first driven gear portion 31 has a second additional tooth 31cu in addition to the plurality of teeth 31 b. The second additional tooth 31cu is provided so as to pass on the axial line L before the third-end tooth 21bp when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh. Specifically, the first additional tooth 22cr is provided so as to pass through the inter-axis line L while coming into contact with any one of the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear part 31 from the fourth-end tooth 22bq and reaching the third-end tooth 21bp from the inter-axis line L.

The sum of the radial distance Ltu from the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu to the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31 having the second additional tooth 31cu and the radial distance Lsu from the surface 21au of the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21, which faces the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu on the inter-axial line L, to the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 21 having the main body portion 21a is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circle diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circle diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

More specifically, the main body 21a of the gear portion 21 meshing with the gear portion 31 having the second additional tooth 31cu has a protruding portion 21aw protruding radially outward of a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the main body 21a at a position facing the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31 cu. By providing the protruding portion 21aw, the surface 21au of the main body portion 21a of the first drive gear portion 21, which faces the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu, is located radially outward of the surface 21as of the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21 with respect to the rotation axis Ax.

By configuring the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 in this manner, even when the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is shorter than the distance suitable for the first meshing, it is prevented that the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 is too close to cause the first meshing to be impossible when the second meshing is shifted to the first meshing. That is, as shown in fig. 16, according to the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31, when the distance at the above-described assembly position is short, at the time of transition from the second mesh to the first mesh, after the tooth 22bq at the fourth end meshes (contacts) with the corresponding tooth of the second driven gear portion 32, the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu contacts the surface 21au of the body portion 21a of the gear portion 21 facing thereto. As a result, the distance between the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being smaller than the sum of the reference circular diameter R21 of the first drive gear part 21 and the reference circular diameter R31 of the first driven gear part 31. That is, the distance of the driving gear 20 from the upper driven gear 30 is prevented from being shorter than the distance suitable for the first mesh. As a result, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31b of the second driven gear portion 31 can be first meshed without colliding with each other.

Of course, the configuration of the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 is not limited to this. For example, the surface 21au may not protrude outward from the surface 21as of the body portion 21a of the first drive gear portion 21. In this case, the second additional tooth 31cu may extend outward from the plurality of teeth 31b for the first meshing of the first driven gear part 31, and the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu may be located radially outward from the tooth tip of the plurality of teeth 31b on the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the first driven gear part 31. With such a first drive gear portion 21 and first driven gear portion 31, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh is also prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the first mesh.

The second additional teeth may be provided in the first drive gear portion 21. In this case, the surface of the first driven gear portion 31 facing the second additional tooth on the inter-axis line L may be located further outward in the radial direction of the circle centered on the rotation axis Bx of the first driven gear portion 31 than the surface 31as of the body portion 31a of the first driven gear portion 31 facing the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 on the inter-axis line L. Alternatively, the surface of the first driven gear portion 31 facing the second additional tooth on the inter-axis line L may extend outward beyond the plurality of teeth 21b for the first meshing of the first drive gear portion 21 without protruding outward beyond the surface 31as of the body portion 31a of the first driven gear portion 31. That is, the tooth tip of the second additional tooth may be located radially outward of the tooth tips of the plurality of teeth 21b from a circle centered on the rotation axis Ax of the first drive gear portion 21. With such a first drive gear portion 21 and first driven gear portion 31, the distance between the drive gear 20 and the upper driven gear 30 when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh is also prevented from being smaller than the distance suitable for the first mesh.

In the second embodiment described above, the drive gear mechanism 10 drives the doors 6 and 8 that change the flow of air flowing through the air duct in the air conditioning apparatus 1 for a vehicle that includes the air conditioning casing 2 in which the air duct 3 through which air flows is formed. The drive gear mechanism 10 includes: an actuator 11 that generates a rotational driving force; a drive gear 20 driven to rotate by the actuator 11; and a driven gear 30 coupled to the shaft 7 for driving the door, and engaged with the driving gear 20 to transmit the rotational driving force of the actuator 11 to the shaft 7. The drive gear 20 has a first drive gear portion 21 and a second drive gear portion 22 having different reference circular diameters R21 and R22. The driven gear 30 includes a first driven gear portion 31 and a second driven gear portion 32 having different reference circular diameters R31 and R32, respectively, provided corresponding to the first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22. The meshing of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 is performed by the first meshing between the first drive gear portion 21 and the first driven gear portion 31 or the second meshing between the second drive gear portion 22 and the second driven gear portion 32 according to the rotation phase of the drive gear 20. The first drive gear portion 21 and the second drive gear portion 22 each have: main body portions 21a and 22a connected to the actuator 11; and a plurality of teeth 21b and 22b provided in the body portions 21a and 22a for first meshing with the first driven gear portion 31 or second meshing with the second driven gear portion 32. The first driven gear portion 31 and the second driven gear portion 32 each have: main body portions 31a and 32a connected to the shaft 7; and a plurality of teeth 31b and 32b provided on the main bodies 31a and 32a for first meshing with the first drive gear portion 21 or second meshing with the second drive gear portion 22. The plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 have a third-end tooth 21bp that passes on the axial line L connecting the rotation axis Ax of the drive gear 20 and the rotation axis Bx of the driven gear 30, at the end of the plurality of teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21, when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh. The plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 include a fourth-end tooth 22bq which passes through the inter-axis line L at first among the plurality of teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh. The second drive gear portion 22 or the second driven gear portion 32 further has a first additional tooth 22cr passing on the inter-axis line L while coming into contact with any one of the plurality of teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 from the tooth 21bp of the third end to the tooth 22bq of the fourth end to reach the inter-axis line L. The sum of the radial distance Ltr from the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr to the rotational axis Ax of the gear portion 22 having the first additional tooth 22cr and the radial distance Lsr from the surface 32ar of the main body portion 32a of the gear portion 32 opposed to the tooth tip of the first additional tooth 22cr on the inter-axial line L to the rotational axis Bx of the gear portion 32 having the main body portion 32a is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circular diameter R22 of the second drive gear portion 22 and the reference circular diameter R32 of the second driven gear portion 32.

According to the drive mechanism 10, even if the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 becomes short due to a dimensional error, an assembly error, or the like occurring in the drive mechanism 10, the teeth 22b of the second drive gear portion 22 and the teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 can be meshed without colliding with each other when shifting from the first mesh to the second mesh.

In the second embodiment, the first drive gear portion 21 or the first driven gear portion 31 further includes a second additional tooth 31cu that passes on the inter-axis line L while coming into contact with any one of the plurality of teeth 32b of the second driven gear portion 32 from the tooth 22bq at the fourth end and reaching the tooth 21bp at the third end on the inter-axis line L. The sum of the radial distance Ltu from the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu to the rotation axis Bx of the gear portion 31 having the second additional tooth 31cu and the radial distance Lsu from the surface 21au of the main body portion 21a of the gear portion 21, which faces the tooth tip of the second additional tooth 31cu on the inter-axial line L, to the rotation axis Ax of the gear portion 21 having the main body portion 21a is equal to or greater than the sum of the reference circle diameter R21 of the first drive gear portion 21 and the reference circle diameter R31 of the first driven gear portion 31.

According to the drive mechanism 10, even if the distance between the assembly positions of the drive gear 20 and the driven gear 30 becomes short due to a dimensional error, an assembly error, or the like occurring in the drive mechanism 10, the teeth 21b of the first drive gear portion 21 and the teeth 31b of the first driven gear portion 31 can be meshed without colliding with each other when shifting from the second mesh to the first mesh.

Industrial applicability

The air conditioner for a vehicle according to the present invention can be industrially manufactured and can be used for commercial transactions, and therefore, has an economic value and can be industrially used.